Most of us have hundreds, if not thousands, of photos just sitting on our phones and computers that we rarely get to revisit in a polished way. There are too many to print and frame, and more keep piling up. That’s why I love digital frames. Do not fear them! They no longer look pixelated and tacky, and the best ones blend in with their surroundings.
I first fell in love with digital frames after trying some from a company called Aura. They’re nice to have around the house, and they also make great gifts. You can set them up for others and push your latest vacation photos straight to them, so your folks or grandparents can always stay up-to-date. They do require a Wi-Fi connection, but if that’s no issue, I have several recommendations. These are the best digital picture frames (and the worst).
Don’t have enough pictures? Check out our other buying guides for the Best Compact Cameras, the Best Mirrorless Cameras, the Best Photo Printing Services, and the Best Camera Gear for your Phone.
Updated October 2021: We’ve added the new Nixplay touchscreen and Aura Buddy frames.
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Photograph: Nixplay
Before You Buy
Privacy Considerations
You might not think that photos count as sensitive information compared to a bank account statement or your Social Security number. But it can be devastating to find photos of loved ones used for nefarious or unsavory purposes.
This is why we prefer frames from reputable companies like Aura and Nixplay over cheaper ones with less clearly defined privacy and security practices. Nixplay offers reasonable security measures, like encrypting your photos during transmission, and Aura offers the option to delete metadata, like the location where a photo was captured. However, both say they may disclose personal information if court-ordered or subpoenaed, and neither provides safety guarantees against hacking.
Some digital frames can connect to voice assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. By doing so, you give these companies more access to search through your entire photo album. For example, you can connect an Aura frame to Google Assistant and ask it to find a photo from a specific event; the Aura app will search your camera roll for what you’ve specified.
If you’re concerned about security, you can avoid connecting it to third-party services, but your most secure option is to just download several photos on a tablet and disable all internet connectivity.
Photograph: Aura
Best Overall
Aura Digital Frames
Aura frames are still the best out there. They’re pricey, but they have high-quality displays and are dead simple to set up, use, and share with family and friends. The app is also very straightforward. My siblings and I gifted one to my parents for Christmas, and they’ve had no problems using it. Aura frames don’t look like shiny computer screens. Guests have said they didn’t realize it was a digital screen until the photo changed, which is exactly what I want in such a frame.
My favorite model is the 10.1-inch Carver. Both the Carver and Mason blend in well with my decor, and they’re the cheapest of the lot at $200. One downside? The Carver can only be used in the landscape orientation. That’s not an issue for me, but you can rotate any of Aura’s other designs to portrait.
You can use Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa to control some features, but you still need Aura’s app.
★ For Pet Parents: Aura has the cute Buddy frame ($179) designed with pet lovers in mind. Instead of liking photos via a heart like the other frames, you react with a paw print, and it comes in a cute animal-illustrated box. If you already have an Aura frame, there’s no need to spend more money on this one, but it would make a nice gift for pet lovers.
Photograph: Nixplay
Runner-Up
Nixplay Digital Frames
Nixplay frames are comparably priced to Aura and look great too. There are additional perks like a small clock you can add to the display, though that does make it look less like a real photo frame and more like a smart display.
I tried the black 10.1-inch ($180) and silver 9.7-inch ($330) frames, which come with a remote to cycle through the photos. You can create your account via Nixplay’s app, but rather annoyingly, you need to use the remote to log in and connect to Wi-Fi. The 9.7-inch frame has better resolution and a glass-like finish to its display, but I prefer the matte finish of the 10.1-inch frame. It’s hard to distinguish the lower resolution unless you put the pair next to each other.
Google Assistant can only control power to the frames, but Alexa has more capabilities. Like Aura, you still need to use the Nixplay app. As a bonus, Nixplay plants a tree for every frame bought in partnership with Trees for the Future.
★ Touch-Screen Alternative: In August, Nixplay released a touch-screen version of the 10.1-inch frame ($210). The photos look just as nice, and if you know you’ll lose a remote, get this one. The touch capabilities are a little laggy compared to the high-speed screens we’re used to, but it’s nice to not be tethered to yet another remote.
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